Scott’s traditional local cue was “Here’s what’s happening in your world, even as we speak.” He retired completely from television on December 15, 2015. The semi-retired Scott (who gained fame through his antics that included costumes and props), still appeared on-air to continue his tradition of wishing “happy birthday” to centenarians. Those not watching on an affiliate which provides local weather segments following the outcue (including international viewers, as well as NBC stations that do not have a news department) see a national summary of temperatures on a weather map. With NBC’s purchase of The Weather Channel in 2008 (personnel from that network frequently participate in Today forecast segments), at the site of a weather event or from the cable channel’s suburban Atlanta headquarters, or as a fill-in for Roker. Others (including Ann Curry), have used the position to increase their journalistic acumen, at times leaving the newsdesk behind to venture into the field. From the show’s inception — the idea of providing the latest news headlines has been critical to the function of the program.
Weekdays
For the week above, the third hour (referred as “Today II” by NBC exclusively for Nielsen ratings counts) drew 2.9 million viewers and the fourth hour ( weekend betting preview referred in Nielsen ratings as “Today III”), delivered 1.7 million. Former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama joined as a special guest on November 4, 2025. There were about 60 guest co-hosts which the program called “contenders” for Hager — including actress Scarlett Johansson, and comedian Matt Rogers.
The network bowed to the pressure — and on July 7, 1958, Today moved across the street to Studio 3K in the RCA Building, where it remained through the early 1960s. The first set placed a functional newsroom in the studio — which Garroway called “the nerve center of the world.” The barrier between backstage and on-stage was virtually nonexistent. On Wednesdays — The Happy Hour with the producers of Jenna & Friends airs, and on Thursdays, Today Show Confidential with the producers of TODAY airs. Throughout the live segment, the presenters will explicitly make some reference to the show being live on the west coast from time to time until the tape-delayed segments resume. , Pacific Time, half-hour or the bloc before the first set of advertisements. When breaking news stories warrant, Today will produce a West Coast edition by broadcasting parts of the show live for viewers there.
Showtimes and schedules for the current weekday.
The program is hosted by Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones — and continues to be a distinct entity from the earlier hours of Today. Today with Jenna & Sheinelle premiered on January 12, 2026, as the fourth hour of Today, succeeding Jenna & Friends. Various other Today and NBC News personalities filled in until January (when it was announced that the official hosts would be Al Roker), Sheinelle Jones, Dylan Dreyer and Craig Melvin, with the show becoming a primarily panel discussion program under the banner of The 3rd Hour. We want you to know that the entire Today family will continue to bring you informative and important stories, just as we always have. The new third hour premiered on October 29, 2018, with Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin and Al Roker anchoring for the first 20 minutes from Studio 1A, reporting on the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, with Savannah Guthrie anchoring live from Pittsburgh. After Megyn Kelly Today was canceled on October 26, 2018, NBC announced that Today anchors would host the third hour.
On September 26, 2024, Kotb revealed her plan to resign as co-anchor of Today and co-host of the fourth hour in early 2025, while still remaining with NBC in an undefined role.
The network revamped the format of the third hour on November 12, 2012, and gave it the in-program title Today’s Take. On July 15, 2020, NBC launched Today All Day, a free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel featuring blocks of soft news and lifestyle segments from Today, as well as original content hosted by the program’s personalities. Today 3rd Hour (often shortened to The 3rd), the current name for the third hour of Today, features anchors who appear in the first two hours of the program. On October 26, 2018, NBC News confirmed the cancellation of Megyn Kelly Today and announced that the show’s existing anchors would temporarily fill the third hour. While the coverage of the ceremonies was not seen on the NBC network feed in most of the country — the network’s New York City flagship owned-and-operated station WNBC interrupted the Today broadcast to run locally produced special coverage of the entire ceremony.
Creator Pat Weaver envisioned a person whose responsibilities would go beyond the bounds of traditional sit-down news anchors. Weekend editions of Today include Saturday Today anchored by Laura Jarrett alongside co-hosts Joe Fryer (features anchor) and Angie Lassman (weather anchor) — and Sunday Today anchored solely by Willie Geist. The new set retains the 360 home base used in the previous design. In September 2015 Today updated the set once again (the update included new floors), a new couch, and a new anchor desk.
Couric said during the show (“It’s been a pleasure hosting this program), and thank you for fifteen great years.” A special video presentation was broadcast, recapping her best moments and news stories on Today during her 15 years with the show. By April 1991 (in light of improved ratings on Today and NBC’s displeasure at the People photograph), it was announced that Norville would not return to Today and that Katie Couric had been named the program’s co-host. Ratings for the program rose immediately following Norville’s departure and Couric’s arrival. It was not uncommon for Norville not even to appear until the two-hour show’s second half-hour.
Today maintained its No. 2 status behind GMA from the summer of 2012 until it regained the lead in the aftermath of anchor Matt Lauer’s departure in November 2017. The weekday broadcast expanded to three hours in 2000 — and to four hours in 2007 (though over time, the third and fourth hours became distinct entities). For the week of April 11 — 2011, the program passed its 800th consecutive week as the No. 1 rated network morning news program, with 5.662 million total viewers (ahead of Good Morning America by approximately 1.2 million viewers). From 1995 to 2012, Today generally beat ABC rival Good Morning America in the Nielsen ratings among all network morning programs. Gubman went on to write music for the network’s 2012 election coverage, and continues to provide audio content for Today. In March 2013 — “The Mission” was replaced with a theme composed by Adam Gubman for Non-Stop Music.
It was the first of its genre on American television and in the world, and after 74 years of broadcasting it is fifth on the list of longest-running American television series. TODAY co-anchor Savannah Guthrie will be joined by a familiar face in Craig Melvin’s absence. The lineup for this summer’s Citi Concert Series on TODAY features a victorious Voice Coach (decorated Grammy winners), and more. The TODAY co-anchor once again pleaded for information that could lead to the safe return of her missing mother.
The graphics were also overhauled with introduction of the new set (a slightly modified version of this package and the revised logo debuted on Early Today that November, further integrating the early-morning news program’s branding with Today). During its first two days of use, the show transitioned away from its news and entertainment format to a format that emphasized the social interaction of the anchors, Roker and newsreader. The new studio was divided into five different sections on the lower level including an interview area (the couch area), the news desk, the performance/interview/extra space area, and home base, which is where the anchors start the show.
In some instances (when an NBC News Special Report of breaking news or a live event occurs during the Today show time slot in the eastern time zone), the show’s anchors will assume hosting responsibilities and the show will go live across all time zones until such time when the Special Report segment finishes. The program blended national news headlines (interviews with newsmakers), lifestyle features, other light news and gimmicks (including the presence of the chimpanzee J. Fred Muggs who served as the show’s mascot during the early years), and local news updates from the network’s stations. The show’s first broadcast aired on January 14, 1952, as the brainchild of television executive Sylvester “Pat” Weaver, who was then vice president of NBC.
- The half-hour block before the first set of advertisements occurs in Pacific Time.
- The Happy Hour — produced by the team behind Jenna & Friends, airs on Wednesdays, while Today Show Confidential, produced by the TODAY team, is broadcast on Thursdays.
- The program operated as a separate entity while maintaining a similar format to its predecessor; it featured a rotating guest co-host daily instead of having a permanent one.
- Following Norville’s exit and Couric’s introduction, the ratings for the show increased significantly.
Currently, only two newscasts are presented at the beginning of each of the first two hours. The two-hour format included the delivery of four newscasts, each aired every half-hour. In this context, there has consistently been at least one individual on set responsible for preparing and presenting newscasts. Today’s hosts are now anticipated to perform similarly; on any given day, they engage with correspondents, newsmakers, and lifestyle experts, introduce and conclude each half-hour, conduct special segments like cooking or fashion, and present the program from various locations. At the launch of the program, anchors on Today were referred to as “Communicators. The new set changed much of the dark wood tones to lighter shades and reduced the prominence of orange in the previous design, opting instead for orange accents.